Women concerned about mammogram results from Belleville Imaging

BELLEVILLE, Ill. (KMOV.com) - Mammograms are meant to help women stay healthy, but thousands are questioning their results from a Metro East facility .

The state suspended Belleville Imaging because their images did not meet quality standards. Problems included breast positioning, exposure and contrast and sharpness. Reviewers disputed the findings of nine out of 30 examinations, including eight that should have resulted in follow-up appointments.

The manager of Belleville Imaging sent letter to about 2,000 patients, informing them of the problems. Brenda Meadows received one of them, as she's been going there for the past 10 years. She had two exams during the time it was reviewed, from May 2014 to August 2016. Meadows says she was given the all clear but now she's questioning those results.

"I was upset because knowing I had issues back in May and now this that the last two mammograms are in question I was very concerned," said Meadows.

Belleville Imaging is advising people to talk to a physician and possibly get another mammogram.

Nicholas Hilpipre, a radiologist at Memorial Hospital said, "We would simply recommend repeat imaging any site that is not meeting quality standards of the American College of Radiology I would recommend repeating those films,"

But it's not that easy, the cancer screening costs a couple hundred dollars.

"I'm on Medicare. Medicare has already paid for a mammogram this past year and they won't pay for another one," said Meadows.

A spokesperson with Illinois Emergency Management Agency, which regulates the facilities, said there are resources available. Contact the National Cancer Institute at 800-422-6237. They will provide the name of a facility that provides free or low cost mammograms.